Pennsylvania Teacher Certification
How to Become a Teacher in Pennsylvania
In order to earn a Pennsylvania teacher certification, applicants must meet certain education and testing requirements and undergo a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Once these general requirements are met, applicants may be eligible for one of the following certificates: Regular Education Instructional I, Regular Education Instructional II, Educational Specialist, Intern, Vocational Education Instructional I, Vocational Education Instructional II, or Vocational Education Intern.
- I want to be a teacher in Pennsylvania, but don’t have a degree: Earn an Education Degree
- I want to be a teacher and have a degree, but not in education: Learn about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Certification Process and Programs
- I have a teaching degree and am interested in more education: Learn about Master’s Degree Education Programs or Doctorate Education Programs and Information.
Spotlight School
Popular Programs:
- Master's-Education
- Graduate Certificate-Management of Education Corporation/Corporate Training Divisions
- Graduate Certificate-Education Leadership
- Graduate Certificate-Curriculum Leadership
Pennsylvania Teacher Education Requirements
Traditionally, individuals who want to become a teacher in Pennsylvania must complete an approved teacher education program resulting in a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a recommendation from the institute. During the course of their teacher preparation programs, eligible applicants will have earned at least six credits in the area of college-level Mathematics and six credits in English Literature and Composition. Additionally, beginning in 2011, prospective teachers in the state of Pennsylvania must have a minimum of three credits related to ESL education and nine credits in the area of teaching students with disabilities. Candidates for a teaching license who have a bachelor’s degree or higher in an endorsed content area who have not undergone a traditional teacher preparation program may be eligible for a Pennsylvania teaching certificate through one of the available alternative certification routes.
Profiles of Well Known Schools
Penn State University: University Park is home to Penn State’s highly ranked College of Education. Penn State’s College of Education programs continually rank very well. All of the College’s graduate programs rank in the top 20 of their respective disciplines including seven programs in the top 10. The Workforce Education program ranked number one in its respective category. Penn State University’s high rankings are more of an outgrowth of their focus on preparing and molding excellent educators that are ready and willing to go out and make a difference no matter what their role is in education. The faculty members and staff within the department are highly dedicated educators that make a habit of going above and beyond the call of duty for eager, yet sometimes-apprehensive students who desire to become educators.
At the beginning of 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics listed Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate at 8.4%, consistent with the national average of 8.5%. The Occupational Supply and Demand System projects 6,451 annual job openings in education and library related fields in Pennsylvania through 2018. The National Center of Education Statistics reported 129,708 public school and 24,640 private school teachers employed in Pennsylvania in fall 2008 and 2007 respectively. The average beginning teaching salary, as reported by the National Education Association, is $38,229 and the average overall teaching salary is $60,760, the 12th highest average among US states. The NEA also notes moderate teacher shortages in math, science and special education, especially in rural and inner-city areas. With a growing number of annual job opportunities due to a steadily growing school system, newly certified teachers, especially in elementary education, may experience an increase in employment opportunity throughout the next few years. For information regarding employment opportunities, state budget allocation and education policy, visit the Pennsylvania State Education Association, a local branch of the NEA. For more information regarding state certification procedures, please contact local education and teaching schools and degree programs.
Pennsylvania Teacher Testing Requirements
Pennsylvania requires that all individuals seeking initial instructional certification in the state take and pass the Praxis series of tests in the areas of fundamental content knowledge (i.e. reading, mathematics, and writing) as well as subject-area expertise in the content area they wish to teach. Educational Specialists who are licensed in another area such as school psychology or nursing are exempt from the testing requirement.
Pennsylvania Teacher Salary and Jobs
| Type | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | 11,260 | $27,920 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | 6,310 | $55,510 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 56,700 | $55,590 |
| Middle School Teachers | 25,890 | $61,030 |
| Secondary School Teachers | 58,680 | $58,550 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2011.
Pennsylvania Teacher Interviews
Interview with Trish Nodolski, Pennsylvania Preschool Teacher and Program Director
Interview with Lisa Butler, Pennsylvania Middle School Spanish Teacher
School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Pennsylvania
Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools
Popular Programs:
- M.A. in Education/Early Childhood Ed.
- M.A. in Education/Secondary Teacher Education
- B.S. in Education / Elementary Education
- A.A. in Elementary Education
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- MA in Education (Leadership in Early Childhood Education)
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Educational Leadership and Administration (Tier 1)
- MA in Education with Instructional Technology Emphasis
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. Teaching (K-8)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (K-8)
- B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- M.A. Teaching - Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Birth - 5 Years)
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood Education
- Special Education (Early Childhood/Elementary)
- Educational Administration: (EDD)
- And more...
Popular Programs:
- M.A. in Teaching - Professional Learning Communities (Does not lead to initial teacher licensure)
- B.S. in Early Childhood
- M.Ed. in Early Childhood (Does not lead to initial teacher licensure)
- M.Ed. in Early Childhood (Leads to initial teacher licensure)
- And more...
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Teacher in Pennsylvania
Question: How to I become a substitute teacher in Pennsylvania?
Answer: To be a substitute teacher in Pennsylvania, you do not need to be a certified teacher, but you must have a bachelor’s degree. With a degree, you can substitute for up to 20 days in one position. To work for longer than 20 days in the same position, you must get an emergency permit through the Pennsylvania Department of Education http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt
Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Pennsylvania
Albright College
1621 N. 13th St.
Reading, PA 19612-5234
(610) 921-2381
www.albright.edu/admission/index.html
Alvernia College
400 Saint Bernardine St
Reading, PA 19607-1799
(610) 796-8200
Arcadia University
450 S Easton Rd
Glenside, PA 19038-3295
(215) 572-2900
www.arcadia.edu/admissions/
Baptist Bible College and Seminary
538 Venard Rd
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
(570) 586-2400
www.bbc.edu/college
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
400 E Second St
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
(570) 389-4000
Bucknell University
Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 577-2000
www.bucknell.edu/x68.xml
Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Rd
Newtown, PA 18940-4106
(215) 968-8000
www.bucks.edu/admissions
Butler County Community College
107 College Drive
Butler, PA 16002
(724) 287-8711
www.bc3.edu/
California University of Pennsylvania
250 University Ave
California, PA 15419-1394
(724) 938-4400
Carlow University
3333 Fifth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3165
(412) 578-6000
admissions.carlow.edu/
Chatham University
Woodland Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412) 365-1100
www.chatham.edu/admissions/index.cfm
Chestnut Hill College
9601 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19118-2693
(215) 248-7000
www.chc.edu/page_template.asp?section=2&file=189_admissions
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
840 Wood St
Clarion, PA 16214
(814) 393-2000
www.clarion.edu/admiss/
Community College of Allegheny County
800 Allegheny Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15233-1895
(412) 323-2323
Community College of Beaver County
One Campus Drive
Monaca, PA 15061-2588
(724) 775-8561
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 751-8010
www.ccp.edu
DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034-9568
(610) 282-1100
desales.edu
Delaware County Community College
901 S Media Line Rd
Media, PA 19063-1094
(610) 359-5000
www.dccc.edu/admissions/
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 895-2000
www.drexel.edu/admissions/overview.aspx
Duquesne University
Administration Bldg 600 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
(412) 396-6000
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
200 Prospect Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-2999
(570) 422-3211
Eastern University
1300 Eagle Rd
Saint Davids, PA 19087-3696
(610) 341-5800
www.eastern.edu/admissions/undg/index.html
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
219 Meadville Street
Edinboro, PA 16444-0001
(814) 732-2000
www.edinboro.edu/admissions/
Elizabethtown College
One Alpha Dr
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298
(717) 361-1000
www.etown.edu/Admissions.aspx
Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley
1634 MacArthur Rd
Whitehall, PA 18052
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Exton
454 W Lincoln Highway
Exton, PA 19341
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg
3941 Jonestown Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17109
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
1801 Columbia Ave
Lancaster, PA 17603
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Lebanon
1776 Quentin Rd Cedar Crest Sq
Lebanon, PA 17042
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Philadelphia Woodhaven Rd
1026 Woodhaven Rd
Philadelphia, PA 19154
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Pottsville
324 N Centre St
Pottsville, PA 17901
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Reading
2302 N 5th St
Reading, PA 19605
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam
Orchard Hills Plz US Rte 11 & 15
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-State College
208 W Hamilton St
State College, PA 16801
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Warminster
435 York Rd
Warminster, PA 18974
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Williamsport
1808 East Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley
3370 Birney Avenue
Moosic, PA 18507
(800) 223-3271
Empire Beauty School-York
2592 Eastern Blvd
York, PA 17402
(800) 223-3271
Gannon University
109 W Sixth St
Erie, PA 16541-0001
(814) 871-7000
www.gannon.edu/admiss
Geneva College
3200 College Ave
Beaver Falls, PA 15010-3599
(724) 846-5100
Gettysburg College
300 N Washington St
Gettysburg, PA 17325-1486
(717) 337-6000
www.gettysburg.edu/admissions/
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
5100 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509-2482
(814) 864-6666
www.glit.edu/admissions.html
Grove City College
100 Campus Dr
Grove City, PA 16127-2104
(724) 458-2000
www.gcc.edu/Admissions.php
Gwynedd Mercy College
1325 Sumneytown Pike
Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901
(215) 646-7300
www.gmc.edu/admissions/
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114-2009
(215) 637-7700
my.holyfamily.edu
Immaculata University
1145 King Rd
Immaculata, PA 19345-0702
(610) 647-4400
www.immaculata.edu/Admission/index.htm
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
1011 South Dr 201 Sutton Hall
Indiana, PA 15705-1098
(724) 357-2100
www.iup.edu/admissions/default.aspx
Juniata College
1700 Moore St
Huntingdon, PA 16652-2196
(814) 641-3000
www.juniata.edu/admission/
Keystone College
One College Green
La Plume, PA 18440-0200
(570) 945-8000
www.keystone.edu/admissions
Kings College-Wilkes Barre
133 N River St
Wilkes Barre, PA 18711-0801
(570) 208-5900
www.kings.edu/Admissions/index.htm
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
15200 Kutztown Rd
Kutztown, PA 19530-0730
(610) 683-4000
La Roche College
9000 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237-5898
(412) 367-9300
www.laroche.edu/admission/home.htm
Lancaster School of Cosmetology
50 Ranck Ave
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 299-0200
Lebanon Valley College
101 N College Ave
Annville, PA 17003-1400
(717) 867-6100
www.lvc.edu/admission
Lehigh Carbon Community College
4525 Education Park Dr
Schnecksville, PA 18078-2598
(610) 799-2121
www.lccc.edu
Lehigh University
27 Memorial Dr W
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(610) 758-3000
www.lehigh.edu/admissions
Levittown Beauty Academy
Vermillion Square – 8919 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19054
(215) 943-0298
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
1570 Baltimore Pike
Lincoln University, PA 19352-0999
(484) 365-8000
www.lincoln.edu/admissions/index.html
Lock Haven University
401 North Fairview Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745-2390
(570) 484-2011
www.lhup.edu/admissions/index.shtml
Luzerne County Community College
1333 South Prospect Street
Nanticoke, PA 18634-3899
(570) 740-0200
www.luzerne.edu/admissions/welcome.jsp
Magnolia School
50 E Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 643-5994
www.thevisionacademy.edu
Manor College
700 Fox Chase Rd
Jenkintown, PA 19046-3399
(215) 885-2360
www.manor.edu/Admissions/index.htm
Marywood University
2300 Adams Ave
Scranton, PA 18509-1598
(570) 348-6211
www.marywood.edu/admissions/
Mercyhurst College
501 E 38th St
Erie, PA 16546
(814) 824-2000
www.mercyhurst.edu/admissions
Messiah College
One College Ave
Grantham, PA 17027
(717) 766-2511
www.messiah.edu/admissions/
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
20 Dilworth Rd
Millersville, PA 17551-0302
(717) 872-3024
www.millersville.edu/admit.php
Misericordia University
301 Lake St
Dallas, PA 18612-1098
(570) 674-6400
admissions.misericordia.edu/
Montgomery County Community College-Central Campus
340 Dekalb Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422-0796
(215) 641-6300
www.mc3.edu/admissions/
Moore College of Art and Design
20th and the Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1179
(215) 568-4515
Northampton County Area Community College
3835 Green Pond Rd
Bethlehem, PA 18020-7599
(610) 861-5300
www.northampton.edu/admissions/
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
201 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1589
(814) 865-4700
admissions.psu.edu/
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
777 W Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057-4846
(717) 948-6452
admissions.psu.edu/contact/campuses/
Philadelphia Biblical University-Langhorne
200 Manor Ave
Langhorne, PA 19047-2990
(215) 752-5800
www.pbu.edu/admissions/undergrad/index.htm
Point Park University
201 Wood St
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1984
(412) 391-4100
www.pointpark.edu/default.aspx?id=27
Reading Area Community College
10 S Second St
Reading, PA 19603-1706
(610) 372-4721
www.racc.edu/Admissions/default.aspx
Robert Morris University
6001 University Boulevard
Moon Township, PA 15108-1189
(412) 762-0097
www.rmu.edu
Rosemont College
1400 Montgomery Ave
Rosemont, PA 19010-1699
(610) 527-0200
www.rosemont.edu/uwc/admissions/index.php
Saint Francis University
117 Evergreen Dr
Loretto, PA 15940
(814) 472-3000
www.francis.edu
Saint Josephs University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395
(610) 660-1000
www.sju.edu/admissions/
Saint Vincent College
300 Fraser Purchase Rd
Latrobe, PA 15650-2690
(724) 539-9761
www.stvincent.edu/admission
Seton Hill University
Seton Hill Dr
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 834-2200
www.setonhill.edu/o/index.cfm?PID=5
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299
(717) 477-7447
www.ship.edu/admiss
Susquehanna University
514 University Ave
Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1025
(570) 374-0101
www.susqu.edu/admissions/
Temple University
1801 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6096
(215) 204-7000
www.temple.edu/admissions/index.htm
The University of the Arts
320 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA 19102-4901
(215) 717-6000
www.uarts.edu/admission/
Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125-2181
(724) 589-2000
www.thiel.edu/admissions/index.htm
University of Pennsylvania
1 College Hall 34th and Spruce Sts
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303
(215) 898-5000
www.upenn.edu/admissions/
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-4141
www.oafa.pitt.edu
University of Scranton
800 Linden Street
Scranton, PA 18510-4629
(570) 941-7400
Valley Forge Christian College
1401 Charlestown Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 935-0450
www.vfcc.edu
Washington & Jefferson College
60 S Lincoln St
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 503-1001
www.washjeff.edu/content.aspx?section=1356&menu_id=379&crumb=354&id=1359
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
University Avenue and High Street
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-1000
www.wcupa.edu/toplevel/admissions.asp
Westminster College-New Wilmington
319 South Market Street
New Wilmington, PA 16172
(724) 946-8761
www.westminster.edu/admissions/index.cfm
Westmoreland County Community College
145 Pavilion Lane
Youngwood, PA 15697-1895
(724) 925-4000
Widener University-Main Campus
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013-5792
(610) 499-4000
www.widener.edu/admissions
Wilkes University
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
(570) 408-5000
York College Pennsylvania
Country Club Rd
York, PA 17403-3651
(717) 846-7788
www.ycp.edu/admissions/index.html
Page edited by Charles Sipe.









